Reading Time: 5 minutes They’re a living piece of Canada’s history and a potentially invaluable genetic resource — but the University of Alberta’s heritage chickens are also proving adept at dodging the budget axe. “They’re living museums,” said Dawn Hage, co-ordinator of the university’s heritage chicken program. “It’s like a snapshot of the kinds of chickens that you would […] Read more
University of Alberta’s heritage chickens dodge the budget axe once again
Egg-loving supporters and backyard chicken enthusiasts preserving this invaluable genetic resource
U of A student chosen for Youth Ag Summit
Reading Time: < 1 minute Amanda Hardman from Stony Plain is one of two Canadians chosen to participate in the global Youth Ag Summit, although this year’s event will be a virtual affair. More than 2,000 youth from almost 100 countries applied for the January event, “a community of global young leaders championing sustainable agriculture and food security” by submitting […] Read more
Renowned U of A wheat-breeding program hanging on — for now
It’s now cranking out new varieties but government cuts threaten program’s revival, says top breeder
Reading Time: 3 minutes Further cuts to post-secondary institutions could lead to the “canola-ization” of wheat breeding. And that’s not a good thing, says one of the country’s top wheat breeders. “I think farmers would say the canola experience is a mistake — letting private enterprise take it over,” said University of Alberta professor, Dean Spaner. “Effectively, they’re breeding […] Read more
Would you like a supercomputer with your cattle herd?
Big Data: Armchair Rancher will harness the power of big data and AI, and give Alberta producers ‘a leg up’
Reading Time: 3 minutes The ‘ancestry.com’ of the cattle industry is in development — and the app could give Alberta ranchers a leg up on the rest of the industry. Livestock Gentec, in collaboration with Alberta Innovates and the University of Alberta’s David Wishart, is creating an app that will help ranchers make better and faster decisions on the […] Read more
No ivory tower approach to this unique partnership with farmers
Reading Time: 4 minutes Normally when you need help on the farm, you need the workers to know something about farming and to be physically present. But for some members of the Food Artisans of Camrose County, having some city kids working virtually was no problem at all. Nearly four dozen students from the University of Alberta’s Augustana campus […] Read more
U of A gets more funding from grains foundation
Reading Time: < 1 minute The University of Alberta is getting a research plot seeder and combine for its wheat-breeding program thanks to a $289,000 grant from the Western Grains Research Foundation. The program focuses on development of hard red (CWRS) and high-yield (CPS) spring wheat varieties, and also conducts research into genetics of disease resistance, nitrogen-use efficiency in wheat, […] Read more
Pork genomics project gets $1 million
Reading Time: < 1 minute University of Alberta professor, Michael Dyck has been awarded a $1-million grant for a project that will use genomics to select pigs with improved disease resilience. The funding, which comes from Genome Canada, will build on the work the professor of animal biotechnology has done with funding from Genome Alberta and is being supported by […] Read more
Cow-calf producers wanted for survey
Survey open until March 13
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta cow-calf producers are being asked to take a survey on the challenges they face. The survey is part of a study by the University of Alberta with participation from Alberta Farm Animal Care. “Producer mental health was a consideration as we know that it is closely related to animal welfare,” AFAC said in a […] Read more
The complicated calculus of climate change
While Canadian farmers may see a longer growing season, there may be more pests and less rain
Reading Time: 3 minutes Farming and food production will be changed as a result of climate change — but the how is a complicated question. “Agriculture is a unique sector,” University of B.C. Professor Navin Ramankutty said earlier this month during this year’s edition of the Bentley Lecture in Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Alberta. “Agriculture is a […] Read more
Alberta farm groups propose new research model
A ‘white paper’ by crop and livestock groups calls for a new way of doing things
Reading Time: 2 minutes The provincial government should “play a role” but needs to work closely with the ag sector to develop a new research funding model, say Alberta farm groups. “Both Agriculture Minister (Devin) Dreeshen and Premier (Jason) Kenney have been vocal about the need to put research back in the hands of producers,” Alberta Wheat and Alberta […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
